Say my opponent snookers me and I am kicking at a red and don't hit a ball. I see them respot the cueball and make them shoot it again sometimes and other times they don't respot it and the other player takes the next shot. Is it a 4 point foul each time they miss the red and who decides if they shoot again or when can they make them shoot it again? What if they are kicking at a red and hit a numbered ball, does the numbered ball also get put back where it was?

Help me understand this part please.

Also, why do you not have to hit a rail after hitting a red or numbered ball?

Say my opponent snookers me and I am kicking at a red and don't hit a ball. I see them respot the cueball and make them shoot it again sometimes and other times they don't respot it and the other player takes the next shot. Is it a 4 point foul each time they miss the red and who decides if they shoot again or when can they make them shoot it again? What if they are kicking at a red and hit a numbered ball, does the numbered ball also get put back where it was?

Help me understand this part please.

Also, why do you not have to hit a rail after hitting a red or numbered ball?

It is what is known as a miss. The incoming player has the option of taking the shot as it lies or putting all the balls back to the original position, taking the penalty points and making his opponent shoot again.

Also, why do you not have to hit a rail after hitting a red or numbered ball?

It's just a different game than pool. So much safety strategy involves not having to hit a rail after you contact a ball.

Here's a common example: escaping a snooker by coming off one or more rail to go into the pack. In many of these nothing contacts a rail after, and if you needed to contact a rail, there would be no way to play the shot without leaving your opponent an easy shot:

Another common shot is a 2-way shot to nothing where you take on a long red but focus on getting the cue ball safe in case you miss. Then, if you pot the red, you haven't left yourself on a color so you just roll up into one for a snooker:

Cliffs: If you had to contact a rail, that would change the entire strategy of snooker safety play, and as a result, snooker would be a much different game altogether.